Top Oregon National Parks

Oregon is a beautiful Northwest state, filled with amazing destinations. Travelers to this state can enjoy exploring rivers and mountains, learning about history and much more. Many of these wonderful destinations are preserved within National Parks. Here are some of this state's fantastic national parks.

Crater Lake National Park

Crater Lake is one of the most unique areas in Oregon and the country. The park makes a great summer and winter time destination. Most of the year the park is covered in snow, the summertime window is very brief, lasting only from July to October. During the short summer visitors can enjoy the Rim Drive, hiking, camping, fishing, swimming in the lake and even take a boat tour of the lake. The park offers interpretive programs where visitors can learn about the history of the park and the very interesting volcanic past of the lake. During the long winter, which lasts from October to July, the Rim Drive is mostly closed, but visitors can still enjoy cross-country skiing and snowshoeing on the trails.

Fort Vancouver National Historic Site

Visitors to Fort Vancouver have the opportunity to learn about the history of the fur trade in the Pacific Northwest. This site offers travelers the opportunity to learn about the cultures that lived in the area, the site also has information about the military history of the region. During a visit to this park travelers can explore the trails, enjoy the Columbia River and more. There are also plenty of activities and events, including costumed programs, living history events, an archeology collection and much more.

John Day Fossil Beds National Monument

This amazing National Monument preserves the evolution of ecosystems over 40 million years. Visitors can learn about this fascinating history of plant and animal evolution. This park consists of three units, where visitors can enjoy the views and learn about the history of the region. In the Sheep Rock Unit, travelers can enjoy the Thomas Condon Paleontology Center, where visitors can see fossils from throughout the monument. Visitors can also enjoy exploring the Painted Hills Unit, which has some wonderful colorful geology. The third unit is the Clarno Unit. This unit preserves the remnants of a rainforest that existed over 40 million years ago.

Lewis and Clark National Historical Park

The Lewis and Clark National Historical Park stretches through Oregon and Washington. At this park travelers can learn all about the Pacific Coast. Visitors can learn about the native people of the region, and learn about the explorers Lewis and Clark. This park includes sites along the Columbia River. Sites in this park include a replica of Fort Clatsop, which also has nearby trails and a Visitor Center. At Cape Disappointment in Washington travelers can explore the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center. Fort Stevens State Park features the Peter Iredale shipwreck as well as biking trails and much more.

Oregon Caves National Monument

Visitors to the Siskiyou Mountains can explore Oregon Caves National Monument. This National Monument preserves marble caves. These caves were formed as rainwater from forests above slowly dissolved the surrounding marble, creating these amazing caves. Visitors can take tours of the caves, led by a ranger these are very informative. Travelers can also enjoy exploring the features of the park above ground, which include an old-growth forest and more.